Ore-concentrator.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

ORE GONGENTRATOR. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 7, 1907.

o. L. MGKBSSON & o. s.. BLACK.

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c. L. MGKBSSOM. o. s. BLACK.

ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED DEO. 7, 1907.

WITNESSESJ 42.'

A TTORNEY wnnsw. s. Gamm cu, Pxoroufuacanmans. wlswmaron. n c.

V-IARLES L. MCKESSON AND ORVILL S. BLACK, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

To all 'whom fit may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES L. McKisssoN and ORVILLE S. BLACK, citizens of the United States, and residents of Colorado Springs, in the county of El Paso and State of Colorado, have jointly invented a new and useful Improvement in Ore-Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ore separating machines and has relation more particularly to that class of separators known as pneumatic machines.

l't is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein an interrupted air current is employed to produce the jigging effect of the ore required for the proper separation.

it also an object of the invention to provide a novel device of this character wherein a movable medium is employed for conif'eying the ore across an air current.

lt is also an object of the invention to provide means acting in conjunction with the movable means for regulating the depth of the ore carried by the movable medium.

It is also an object of the invention to provide novel means acting in conjunction with the movable medium for creating a draft or air current traveling in a direction opposite to the movement of the movable medium.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention tc produce a novel device of the character noted, which will possess advantages in points of simplicity, efficiency, and durability, proving at the same time comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith the foregoing` and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, in which- Figure 1, is a view in top plan of the invention; Fig. 2, is a view in side elevation of the invention; Fig. 3, is an end view of the device; Fig. 4, is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line a-a, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5, is a sectional view taken on the line b-Z), of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December '7, 1907.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 405,596.

In the drawings 3, denotes the end of the frame having secured thereto the sides 4. The ends 3 and sides 4, form a frame. Within the frame formed by the sides and ends and extending longitudinally thereof is an air chamber having its top open and its bottom 2, formed of converging sections. Mounted in the ends 3, and adjacent the top of the air chamber 2, exterior thereof, are the rollers 5 and 6,' and mounted in the ends approximately centrally thereof, and beneath the bottom 2, is a third roller 7, around which passes an endless belt l. This belt is intended to travel around the rollers 5, 6, and 7, and move transversely across the air chamber hereinbefore referred to. The belt may be moved in any' desired manner, but it has been found best to extend the shaft of the roller 5, to the exterior of the frame and mount on this exterior portion a belt pulley 24, which will be suitably engaged with any desired source of power. The belt 'l may be of any desired material, it only being essential that it be sufliciently porous to permit air to pass therethrough. lt may be further stated that belts of dierent material are required for different ores, but as this forms no essential feature of the invention, further detail thereof is believed unnecessary. The belt has it-s upper surface undisturbed or uninterrupted, that is to say that the upper surface of the belt is even, free of rifHes, attachments or raised edges which would have a tendency to interfere with the free passage of the material across the surface of the belt. lt is necessary that that portion of the belt passing over the open face of the air chamber should be taut. To maintain this condition, a tension roller S, is mounted in the slotted bearings in the ends 3, and is under the control of the springs 17, as is more particularly shown in Fig. 3. Along the side of the air chamber toward which the belt moves, is arranged a series of cleaners, all of like construction and designated as 9. Each of these cleaners 9, is hinged to the frame of the machine and may be raised or lowered and held in position by means of the screw 10, threaded through the support 11. Hinged to the edge of the cleaner and depending therefrom is an adjustable plate 12. One edge of this plate may be dropped as closely as desired to the belt 1, and is held in position by means of the rod 13, and the nuts 14 and 15, thereon, arranged on opposite sides of the ferred to.

plate 1l. Under the edge of the machine provided with the cleaners are placed sultable launders 18, 19, 20, 2l and 22, to receive the concentrates when separated from the tailings. These launders are made with walls sloping in such a manner as to cause the concentrates to gather infront of the gates 23, for removal.

The ore to be separated is fed to the belt l, in any desired manner and in order that said ore will not attain too great a depth or thickness on the belt, the longitudinal strips 16, are placed at intervals across the open face of the air chamber.

The frame or concentrator may be supported in any manner desired, but it has been found best to provide the legs 25, which are made adjustable so that the surface of the frame may be set at any desired angle'. To afford this adjustment, the legs are shown jointed with thumb screws 26, for the purpose of obtaining any desired length of the legs.

Air is supplied t-o the chamber hereinbefore referred to through the pipe 2'?, connecting said air chamber with an air regulating chamber 28. Passing through the air chamber 28, is a spindle 30, bent to an approximate U-shape. A portion of this spindle extends to the exterior of the chamber 28, and has secured thereto a pulley 29, which is to be rotated by -any ordinary or preferred means. Operating within the chamber 28, and in the guide grooves 33, is a jig gate 3l, having its upper edge formed with a lip or flange 32. This flange 32 is engaged by the U-shaped portion of the spindle 30. The lip 32, is also engaged by a rod 34, which extends through the top of the casing. The exterior portion of this rod is provided with an adjustable collar 35, which provides a means for limiting the distance which the gate may fall, Vthis distance being changed at will by the operator. The lower portion of the chamber 28, is suitably divided to form an air channel 36, which is intersected by the gate 3l, hereinbefore re- In addition to this gate, there is a blast gate 87, for regulating the maximum flow of air through the air channel. This gate is provided with an adjusting rod 38, and collar 39, constructed similar to the parts referred to with reference to the jig gate.

In operation the pulp or pulverized ore is fed from any suitable source upon the belt l, at or near the upper end of the machine. By means of the drive pulley 5, the belt is being continuously revolved at a predetermined speed according to the nature of the ore being treated. Air from a suitable compressor or blower is applied through the air chamber 28, and pipe 27, to the air chamber under the belt. The belt being porous, the air passes readily therethrough and into 4and over the tail end of the machine'.

the pulp on the belt, thereby agitating the pulp. The constant air current is inquantity the amount passing through the air channel 36, when the jig gate is at the lowest point to'which it is allowed to drop constantly agitates and holds the pulp over the belt. The additional air allowed to enter the air chamber when the jig gate 31, is raised gives the ore a puff which being rapidly repeated is in reality a jig motion. This agitation and jig motion causes all of the heavierl particles in the ore to settle to the belt while the lighter waste passes down to The heavier particles, known as concentrates, with some waste are carried by the belt tothe cleaners at the side of the machine. The cleaners come in close proximity to the belt and the air which passes through the belt under the cleaners escapes to the upper edge of the cleaners and thereby produces a strong current which blows back the particles of waste material. By raisino and lowering the cleaners, the strength of this currentis accordingly diminished or increased. The cleaners are regulated until'the air current is just strong enough to blow back all waste from the concentrates which are then carried out under the cleaners, over the roller 5, and deposited in the launders. As this ore passes down over the machine, different minerals of different specic gravity find their way to the different cleaners. The several cleaners being independent may be given different 1n- Vclinations if necessary to clean the concentrates passing under them. The bottom plate of each cleaner being kept at its rear edge very close to the belt prevents air from escaping to the launders and carrying out waste in that direction. In the concentrating of ores on this machine, it is found that coarse heavy ores require a strong air current and a heavy blast, while very iine light ores require very little air. A perfect control of the air current both as to constant flow and as to blasts is essential owing to the many different grades and kinds of ores which are treated. This control is readily afforded through the medium of the gate 37.

The porous belt l, may be made of any material not impervious to air and may be smooth, rough or corrugated oni its upper surface. A heavy woolen material like beaver or broadcloth has been found to make an excellent belt for a majority of ores.

XVe claiml. An ore concentrator comprising an air chamber, a belthaving its upper run arranged over the same, a gate member arranged in the path of the delivery of said air current, an actuated shaft for effecting the intermittent vertical movement of said gate, and means for limiting the Vdrop of said gate.

2. An ore concentrator comprising an air chamber, a belt having its upper run extending over the same, means for delivering an air current into said chamber, a gate member arranged in the path of the delivery of said air current, a pulley-actuated shaft having a lateral arm adaptedto engage a corresponding upper end extension of said gate and means for limiting the drop of said gate.

3. An ore coneentrator comprising an air chamber, a belt having its upper run passing over said chamber, a gate member arranged in the path of the delivery of said air current and having a collar for limiting its drop, and a pulley-actuated shaft having a lateral extension or arm adapted to engage a corresponding upper end extension of said gate.

4:. An ore coneentrator comprising` an air chamber, a belt having its upper run passing over said chamber, means for delivering an air current into said chamber, a gate member arranged in the path of the delivery of said air current, said gate being equipped with an adjustable collar for limiting the drop of said gate and -ior varying such dropping action, a shaft having a lateral extension or arm adapted to engage a corresponding upper end extension of said gate, and means t'or actuating said shaft.

An ore concentrator comprising an air chamber, means for delivering an air current into the chamber, a belt having its upper run passing over said chamber, a hinged or pivoted member having a hinged supplemental member underlying the first noted member and means for the adjustment of said supplemental member relatively to said belt near the delivery end of the latter.

6. An ore concentrator comprising an air chamber, means for delivering an air current into said chamber, a belt having its upper run passing over said chamber, a hinged or pivoted member, having an underlying supplemental hinged member, and a bracket or support overhanging the first mentioned hinged member and having an adjusting screw Working or threaded into the latter, said supplemental member being arranged contiguous to the delivery end of said belt.

7. An ore concentrator comprising an air chamber, means for delivering an air current into said chamber, a belt having its upper run passing over said chamber, a hinged or pivoted member having an underlying supplemental hinged member, a bracket or support overhanging the first mentioned hinged member and equipped with an adjusting screw threaded into the latter, and a rod passing through said bracket or support and engaging said supplemental hinged member, said rod being equipped With nuts for engagement with said bracket, said underlying hinged member being arranged contiguous to the delivery end of said belt.

ln testimony whereof, we aliix our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES L. MCKESSON. ORVILLE S. BLACK. lVitnesses:

F. W. YOUNG, C. LEON MoKEssoN. 

